The UfM High-Level Policy Conference on Employment and Labour embodied the multi-stakeholder mindset that guides collective regional efforts under the umbrella of the UfM to build consensus on sectoral regional agendas a co-design and co-deliver concrete value with the aim of unlocking the regional potential in terms of human capital. The UfM Region faces several employment-related challenges in the aftermath of major socio-economic and geopolitical disruptions, but several initiatives and best practices from the region can inform our collective efforts going forward. Valletta, 13-14 October 2025. The UfM High-Level Conference on Employment and Labour was held on 13 October 2025… read more
29 September – 2 October 2025, Tirana – The city of Tirana, Albania, hosted the 2nd edition of the UfM Med Youth Lab, where 58 young leaders from 14 Euro-Mediterranean countries came together to exchange, connect and co-create solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable and united region. The event was organised by the UfM with the support of German Development Cooperation (GIZ), in partnership with Anna Lindh Foundation, European Institute of the Mediterranean , and Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes and with the support of the Albanian Ministry of State for Youth and Children and the National Youth Agency of Albania. Building on… read more
1 October 2025, Cairo. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) hosted the 9th Annual Conference of Mediterranean Central Banks under the theme “Harnessing Innovation and Integration for Sustainable and Inclusive Development in the Mediterranean Region.” Organised in partnership with Banco de España, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the event brought together central bank governors from across the Euro-Mediterranean region, policymakers, academics and representatives of international financial institutions. Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Meltem Büyükkarakaş, warned that only stronger integration… read more
A High-level Dialogue at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) headquarters gathered national authorities, international organisations, and regional disability organisations to push forward a common agenda for the socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. Participants discussed the foundations of a Euro-Mediterranean Disability plan, drawing on the findings of a recent study on socio-economic inclusion in the region. 23 September 2025, Barcelona. People with disabilities in the Mediterranean face systemic exclusion, with unemployment rates often exceeding 70% and limited funding for disability programmes. While these challenges may mirror those of other regions, the Mediterranean’s heterogeneity and the stark socio-economic disparities between… read more
Barcelona, 18 September 2025. Senior Officials from the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered at the organisation’s headquarters in Barcelona to take stock of pressing regional issues and drive forward the UfM strategy. The meeting opened with political dialogue, including an exchange on the Middle East Peace Process. Officials then turned to the UfM reform process, with discussions centred on the new draft of the UfM Strategic Vision. Participants also received a debrief on the recent EU–Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial and the New Pact for the Mediterranean, reflecting on how these political processes intersect with the UfM’s… read more
During their 2022 Ministerial Meeting in Marrakech, the UfM Ministers of Employment and Labour stressed the need to promote the transition to formal employment for informal workers, especially women. The UfM Workshop acted upon this mandate and benefited from the expertise of multiple partners and stakeholders. Several success stories and best practices were shared by young and women entrepreneurs to inspire pathways of sustainable transition from informal economy, with a focus on trust-building, inclusivity and impact going forward. 16-17 September 2025, Istanbul – The UfM, in partnership with the German Development Cooperation and with the support of the European Commission… read more
The 2nd UfM Progress Report on Regional Integration, published in collaboration with the OECD and supported by the German Development Cooperation, was presented today in Barcelona. The data-driven report provides insights on the state of Euro-Mediterranean economic interconnectedness as well as actionable policy recommendations. Although trade flows among UfM Member States accounted for 30% of all global exports in 2022, the Euro-Mediterranean market is still highly fragmented. While foreign direct investment has remained broadly resilient, in many countries it is surpassed by remittances. The region now hosts close to 80% more intra-UfM migrants than in 1990, the majority of which… read more
Rabat, 11 September 2025. The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Nasser Kamel, delivered the keynote address at the Retreat on the Future of Euro-Mediterranean Relations, hosted by Morocco. The high-level meeting brought together political leaders, senior officials and think tanks to reflect on regional cooperation ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process this November. Secretary General Kamel warned that the region is at a crossroads of global tensions and urged a coordinated response. He outlined five priorities for the years ahead: bridging economic gaps, addressing youth and migration challenges, accelerating the green and digital… read more
Barcelona, 18 July 2025 – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) backed a project developed within its Academic Advisory Group of Schools of Architecture and Urban Planning that has secured €769,000 in Erasmus+ funding under the highly competitive 2025 Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) call, which had a success rate of just 6%. The selected initiative, GET-MED – Grounded Ecological Transition for the Mediterranean, brings together a diverse network of universities from Barcelona, Cagliari, Lisbon, Cairo, Al Alamein, Rabat, Fez, Tirana, and Podgorica, forming a unique alliance of ten institutions across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Anchored in the UfM’s longstanding… read more
Bratislava saw the first UfM activity to be held in Slovakia, bringing together 50+ digital experts and actors from both shores of the Euro-Mediterranean Region to discuss digital skills, digital rights, and the role of cities in promoting digital transformation. The Conference introduced the participants to the initiatives underway by Digital Coalition Slovakia and gave the floor to participants to share best practices and success stories involving the Private Sector from Albania, Egypt, Estonia, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, and other UfM countries. 16-17 July 2025, Bratislava – This year’s edition of the UfM Digital Transformation Conference, co-organised with the German Development… read more
